warner bros vs sony studio tour

Which Is The Best Hollywood Studio Tour For You?

Posted on Published: June 29, 2019  - Last updated: February 26, 2024

Categories North America , California , Travel

There are four major Hollywood studio tours that you can go on in and around Los Angeles : Warners Bros., Sony, Paramount, and Universal Studio Tours.

It’s really not necessary to do all of them , especially on the same trip. There’s quite a bit of overlap between each studio tour, and the ticket prices can really add up.

Throughout my visits to California, I’ve managed to visit all 4 Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles (and some more than once!).

Here’s my in-depth reviews of all the major Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles. This is what to expect from each one so you can decide which is the best studio tour in los Angeles for you!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Why Should You Go On A Hollywood Studio Tour?

Hollywood Studio Tours in Los Angeles are a great way to gain an “ all-access” pass to the biggest backstage lots in California .

They give you a chance to go behind the scenes on some of your favourite movies and TV shows.

You’ll get to see the sets and props, and learn about the magic of making movies. And, if you’re lucky, you might get the chance to either see a live film set or a celebrity at work . 

Let’s just say, visit a movie set is a quintessential Los Angeles activity … p.s. see my L.A. guide here .

Which Is The Best Hollywood Studio Tour For You ?

The best Hollywood studio tour for you will depend on three main factors :

• Your favourite films and TV shows

The studio tours vary in budget and tour length. The price ranges between $55 to $110 / ticket . And the tour can last anywhere between one to three hours .

But your favourite movies and TV shows are the most important factor when deciding which studio tour in Los Angeles to go to. If you haven’t watched anything the studio has produced, you’ll be less interested in what you’re seeing and learning about.

Best Studio Tours In LA: Overview

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Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

Universal Studios is a bit of a unique studio tour in Los Angeles. The studio tour can only be accessed if you buy a ticket to the entire theme park .

This also puts the studio tour at a much higher price point compared to the others around Los Angles. But, on the other hand, it is an ENTIRE day of activities instead of a few hours.

The tour itself is only 60 minutes but there are no shortage of other rides and shows to see once you’re in the park.

Quick Information & Links

Total Time : 1 hour (not including wait time in line) Admission : $109 -$119* (includes access to the entire park, price varies depending on the season) Book Tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood . Parking : Starts at $32* (General Parking)

*Updated January 2024

Movies Referred To/ Filmed Here:

You should check out this Hollywood studio tour if you’re a fan of…

• Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Jurassic Park
• Fast and the Furious
• Jordan Peele’s horror epic, NOPE

Pros Of The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

You are on the LARGEST film and TV studio in Hollywood and the world! You get to drive by some of the most iconic sets in all movie history.

You drive-by the sound stages, new and old sets.

But this is still a ride in a theme park so they’ve added some more ride-like adventure elements to make things more exciting, unlike any other Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles.

At times you feel like you’re in the movie rather than just seeing where one was filmed!

And it’s not all for show either, they do still use these sets to film. In fact, this was the only Hollywood studio tour where I caught a live taping , so it’s still possible to see!

One thing’s certain though, you won’t be bored for a second on this tour even if you don’t happen to see an active film set during your tour. 

P.S. Make the most of your time at Universal Studios and book an Express Line ticket through Viator here . It gives you one-time express access to each ride, show, and attraction at the park !

Cons Of The Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour

It’s the least personal studio tour in Los Angeles. You’re on a tram the entire time for 60 minutes straight, with about 30 other people!

As I said, this tour is sometimes more of a ride than a studio tour (so it’s both a pro and a con!).

At times, the tour felt very streamlined , because most of it is. You still have a guide, but he’s following a script on a set path so it’s the same tour every time (unlike the others which have a bit more variance based on your guide).

The tram is on a set course and there are timed animatronics and effects throughout the tour.

Value For Money – Movie Location Los Angeles

I will admit, you get pretty good value for your money with your tickets to Universal studios. But that’s only if you wanted to visit the theme park.

If you were already planning on visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, then the studio tour is a must-do ride! 

But if you don’t like theme parks, and your only interest is the Hollywood studio tour, I wouldn’t recommend paying for the entire theme park just for the tour.

You might also be interested in reading…

• How To Plan Your Los Angeles Vacation

Logistics: What To Know Before You Go

A tram leaves about every 30 minutes for the Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour so the line builds up pretty quickly. I’d prioritize this as one of your first rides of the day.

As I said, don’t expect reality with this one, they do show you real sets but it’s also still a ride. So you’ll get a lot of gimmicky routines created specifically for this tour. 

Also, some advance warning, you might get wet at certain points during the ride. If you’d prefer to not get wet, try to sit in the middle of the row.

Book Universal Studio Tours Tickets In Advance Through Viator

Book General Admission tickets →

Book Skip the Line Express Tickets →

Book the VIP Experience on Viator (giving your exclusive access to off-limits areas of the park) →

For more Los Angeles organized tours from Viator, click here .

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Warner Bros. Studio is actually in Burbank California , but it’s close enough to Los Angeles.

Warner Bros. studio tour takes you on a tram around different parts of the studio, with only around 12 guests at a time on the tour.

So unlike Universal Studios Hollywood studio tour, it’s a lot more personal and you’re only on the tram to get from place to place (because their lot is HUGE!).

You drive by sound stages and countless outdoor sets. But you’ll get off and walk around a bit, even walking in some sets if you’re lucky. So you should be prepared for some walking on this studio tour in Los Angeles!

Total Time : ~3 hours (1 hour guided, 2 hours unguided). Leaves every 30 minutes from 9:30 to 3:30 Admission : 70$* Parking : 15$* Website

What Was Filmed Here (Sets You Might See!)

Check out this Hollywood studio tour if you’re a fan of…

• Harry Potter
• Gilmore Girls
• Back to the Future
• The Big Bang Theory
• Pretty Little Liars

So Much More Than A Studio Tour

Over the years, the Warner Bros. studio tour has grown. It’s no longer just a backlot tour, now, that’s just one part of it…

Museums, Props, Sets, & Photo Ops At Warner Bros. Studio

Tickets to the Warner Bros. studio tour also includes interactive museums where you’ll want to take all the pictures you can!

You can interact with different sets from your favourite movies and TV sets, like Friends, the Big Bang Theory and Harry Potter! on the magic of movies, costume

There’s also an entire exhibit on the DC universe with all superheroe and villain props. They have Aquaman’s lair, Wonder Woman’s study, Superman’s office, and the Batman’s bat cave.

And finally they have an in-depth exhibit on all things filmmaking. Staring with the writing process and finishing with the special effects of movie making.

Book Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tickets With Viator

General Admission tickets →

Pros Of The Warner Bros. Studio Tour

They are constantly updating the Warner Bros. studio tour – that means you can even go back the next time you’re in Los Angeles, I’ve already gone back twice!

There was some over lap with the sets and information, but very little. A lot had been updated and added to the tour. And I’ve already noticed that they’ve added a lot more content since I’ve gone!

Also, the guided portion of the tour will rarely be the same. For starters, where you go will all depend on what they’re filming at the time. So not only can it change over the years, but it can change within the hour!

It’s also a very personal tour with only being 12 people on the tram. You can also all your questions about movie magic!

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Cons Of The Warner Bros. Studio Tour

With all the new additions to the tour every year, I’ve noticed the guided portion has become less and less…

The guided tour portion is only hour , and then two hours are a self guided tour through the museums.

But it’s the guided portion of the tour that’s always fresh and what brings me back! I’m a bit disappointed that the museums seem to have taken over the tour now, making the tour a bit more gimmicky and less about touring real sets and sound stages…

How to See San Diego in One Day

Bring government I.D. when you visit, and make sure to arrive early!

You have to go through security and there might be a lineup. They suggest arriving 30 minutes in advance.

Don’t worry about getting lost on your way to the studios (if you’re driving there)! I followed the instructions we were given on how to get to the visitor’s centre, but my GPS brought me to the wrong gate. No need to panic if this happens to you too! The patrol was very understanding (I’m sure this happens all the time) and told us exactly where to go.

If you’re driving, there’s a parking lot across the street from the visitor’s centre (paid, of course). The studio is in a pretty secluded area, but there’s a Starbucks in the visitor’s centre .

You can book Warner Brothers Studio tour tickets in advance on Viator here .

Paramount Pictures Hollywood Studio Tour

Paramount Pictures is really interesting because it’s the last Hollywood studio still in Hollywood (well in Los Angeles). 

So it’s only about a 15-minute drive from Hollywood Blvd. FYI, Warner is in Burbank, and Sony is in Culver City.

It was very similar to Warner Bros. Hollywood studio tour in terms of the scale of the studio. They have several sound stages, a water tank, and a totally customizable New York set.

Like the other Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles, there’s a museum portion of the tour with props. Paramount Pictures one had a lot of “ unwanted ” props (those that could only be used once for the film they were designed for).

There was A LOT of props from the Transformers franchise, but there were also Star Trek, Gladiator, and Dream Girls props.

Time : 2 hours * They leave every 30 minutes from 9:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. Admission : 65$* Parking : $22 – (used to be cash only)* Website

What Was/ Is Filmed Here

• The Godfather
• OG King Kong (In Set 19)
• Breakfast at Tiffanys
• Forrest Gump

Pros Of Paramount Pictures Studio Tour In Los Angeles

The best part about the Paramount Pictures Hollywood studio tour tour was the small size of the group. There’s a max of 7 people on the tour (you’re in an 8 seater golf cart).

The tour also provided earphones to be able to perfectly hear your tour guide at all times, so they didn’t have to shout at you! There can be a lot going on on sets with a lot of noises, so the earphones were definitely appreciated.

I also liked that they provided visuals for what you were looking at during the tour. Our tour guide carried around an iPad showing examples of what a specific set was used for over the years. So instead of looking at a giant green screen, they showed us how that green screen was used in different films.

Cons Of Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

Paramount Pictures studio tour taught me a few things about Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles…

First, the quality of the tour really depends on your tour guide – they can make or break your visit. And unfortunately, you won’t really know who you’re going to get beforehand.

Unfortunately for me, my tour guide at Paramount Pictures wasn’t the best. There’s so much history to this Hollywood studio that I ended up lost most of the time because I didn’t know who or what he was referring to, I guess the references were also a bit ahead of my time…

Paramount Studio tour also really showed me how important it is to have seen (or at least heard of) the films or shows the studio produced. 

So if you’re a fan of classics like I Love Lucy, Alfred Hitchcock, or the original King Kong then Paramount Pictures studio tour is a must for you!

For me, Paramount Pictures studio tour was a bit of a mixed bag. I really see the potential of this tour though, but I think you have to be a really big movie buff to enjoy Paramount Pictures studio tour.

The visitor parking is across the street from the main gates. Be wary of the address on Google Maps, it brought me to the wrong gate.

When I visited, parking was cash only, so it’s always good to be prepared. There’s an ATM you can use at the end of the tour if you need (apparently no one does cash back in the area…).

Like the other tours, you have to show I.D. and go through security, so they ask you to arrive 30 minutes before your tour . But, in case there’s no wait at all, there’s a mini-exhibit you can visit to pass the time before your tour starts. 

Make sure to bring water and food, there’s really not much in the area. But drinks aren’t allowed on the tour itself, so leave it in the car!

SONY Studio Hollywood Tour

SONY Hollywood studio tour ended up being my favourite studio tour . We were only about 5 people on this tour, so it was very personal. But I don’t know if this was the max, or that fewer people happened to sign up for it.  

I know online there are 25 spots per time slot. I don’t know if that’s the typical tour size on a busier day, or if they would always split you up into smaller groups once you get there.

There are famous cars on display from movies and shows (like Breaking Bad and Ghostbusters). They also have a prop museum at the start of the tour. There’s even an Oscar and an Emmy award you can see (and even hold!). 

Time : 2 hours * Leaves 4 times a day: 9:30, 10:30, 1:30 and 2:30. Admission : 55$* Parking : Free Valet Website

What Was Filmed Here

• Breaking Bad
• Wheel of Fortune
• Ghostbusters
• The Goldbergs

Pros Of The SONY Studio Tour

SONY is a MUCH smaller studio than the other three Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles. That means you don’t even need a tram to get around, we walked everywhere (so you should also be prepared to walk!). This made it easier to take appreciate it all and take pictures!

I also absolutely loved our tour guide, he was by far my favourite out of all the ones we had on any tour. It didn’t seem like he simply memorized a script. It was as if he lived and breathed SONY and films in general. I would’ve believed it if he’d told us he grew up on set.

We also got the chance to walk on to a sound stage from one of my favourite TV Shows – The Goldbergs. And our guide brought us onto a working foley stage (where they create extra sounds for movies). 

If a sound or foley stage isn’t available to see, you are guaranteed to see either the Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy set . They film on opposite days, so you’ll always be able to see one of them.

But the best perk of all is… You get your picture taken on the set of either Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, which they’ll print out and give to you as a souvenir… FREE OF CHARGE! ! Seriously when is anything ever free these days…

Cons Of The SONY Hollywood Studio Tour

As I mentioned, there’s no tram for the SONY Hollywood studio tour. Although the studio isn’t as large as the others, you have to be prepared to walk quite a bit.

Another sort of pro and con is that it’s 80 % outdoors . So you really want to go when it’s decent weather. And be prepared to be in the sun!

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Value For Money – Hollywood Studio Tours In Los Angeles

I think you get a lot of value for your money at SONY studio tour. It’s the cheapest out of any of the Hollywood studio tours in Los Angeles and they give you some nice freebies (like parking and a photo souvenir!).

The scale of the studio might be smaller than the other three major studios, but there’s still a lot to see. And despite the lack of big blockbuster sets, they make up for it in different ways (like seeing the inside of a game show set, and a foley stage).

Like Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures studio tours, they ask that you arrive 30 minutes early to go through security. 

If you drive there, they offer FREE valet parking in the Overland lot. 

The studio is very much out of the way, so plan your meals and snacks in advance. All they had at the studio was a vending machine .

Don’t expect to see large outdoor sets like from Warner Bros. or Paramount, SONY is a lot smaller, so most of their sets are on sound stages. So if you’re interested in the big New York outdoor sets, SONY isn’t for you!

Overview, What’s The Best Studio Tour In Los Angeles?

Like I said before, Universal Studios is the most expensive, but you do get an entire days worth of activities. But if your intent is to learn about movie magic, the other three are better choices. 

If you have time for more than one, you don’t need to see both Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures. There’s quite a bit of overlap between the two. Instead, choose one of those, and then either Universal or SONY as your second option.

P.S. Need A Place To Stay In L.A.? Hotel Recommendations

Finding a place to stay in Los Angeles can be quite overwhelming – it’s HUGE!

I stayed at the Sofitel and would highly recommend it. It was in a safe area, and across the street from the Beverly Hills mall (which proved to be very convenient). It was also within walking distance to some local restaurants you need to try – like the Kings Road Cafe! See room rates & availability here .

If you want to stay on the beach outside of the city life instead, we stayed at The Georgian in Santa Monica and couldn’t recommend it enough! It’s only about a 25 minute drive from the city. This was a beautiful art deco hotel that is begging you to go there! It’s a minutes walk to the beach, Santa Monica Pier, and the Third Street Promenade. See room rates & availability here .

For more accommodation options in Los Angeles, click here . Interested in longer stays in L.A. check out Plum Guide here .

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Last update on 2024-05-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Tuesday 26th of September 2023

You've gotten me excited about my next trip to Los Angeles. I've done the Universal tour and the Warner Bros tour, so I may do what you suggested and do Paramount and Sony next.

You're right about Universal's tour being more of a ride from what I remember. However, it was cool to see sets from The Good Place, Jaws, and Psycho. Being on the tram the whole time was a little different, and my experience was a bit thrown off because I hadn't expected Universal, CA to have such similar rides to Universal, FL, and I loved how Universal, FL made it really seem like you were on a set walking through various cities. Definitely not the same as CA. I think I was there for about 2 hours and was done. The weather was weird where it was kindof warm at first, but then turned super cold while I was in line for a ride, so I was done sooner than I expected.

I absolutely loved the Warner Bros tour. The guide was super nice and knowledgeable. I almost died when I saw the Gilmore Girl house and Luke's Diner. Of course I took pictures at the Central Perk. To me, the prop museum was a tad boring, but still overall decent. The tour was partially walking and partially riding. There were so many moments where I was like...."this looks familiar" and had to think of where the set had been used. Super cool. I highly recommend it.

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

That's awesome!! Definitely I enjoyed that the Warners brothers was mixed with walking and a tram ride you were able to get so much further that way - and the lot is HUGE! It really is cool seeing sets from your favourite TV shows and movies! I really liked the SONY tour but it was definitely a lot smaller than Warner bros!

Sunday 19th of February 2023

Hi Meghan, great article. Easy to read and allowed me to choose the studio we should visit in the short time we will be in L.A. Thanks you.

Monday 20th of February 2023

That's awesome to hear! Glad I could help :D :D

How To Plan Your Los Angeles Vacation | Afternoon Tea Reads

Thursday 1st of October 2020

[…] sure which one to visit? Read my overall review of each studio tour to help you […]

Monday 1st of July 2019

Wow what a great list of tours to choose from! I personally don't like these types of things however I think your post will be super useful for those who do!

Thanks! I hope it will be :)

I’ve done the Universal tour but it was like 20 yrs ago! I really want to go back and do all these studio tours. I’m film mad me 😃💕

Oh wow, you really should I'm sure a lot has changed since then. It's a movie geeks dream :)

Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood Review: Is It Worth The Money?

by Mark and Kristen Morgan

Published: September 9, 2020

Touring a TV and movie studio simply has to be on your travel itinerary when visiting Los Angeles for the first time. But which of the four major studios should you choose? Well, this first hand review will give you a rundown of what you can expect if you plump for the  Warner Bros  studio tour.

By the end of this unbiased review, you will know if Warner Bros is the perfect studio tour for you. On the other hand, you could end up certain you need to choose one of Sony, Paramount or Universal instead.

Hollywood movie studio tours are not cheap and take up a considerable portion of the day. Unless you’re a HUGE film fan, we’d recommend picking only one tour before spending the rest of your time and money on the other  awesome things to do and see in Los Angeles .

As avid movie fans ourselves (but not quite in the HUGE bracket) we chose Warner Bros because our research led us to believe it was the “purest” movie studio.

Each studio tour has its pros and cons which we’ll get into later, before giving you our opinion on whether Warner Bros is worth the money.

Let’s find out if Warner Bros is your golden ticket!

Warner Bros Studio Factfile

City : Los Angeles (Burbank) State : California

Also Known As : Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. / WB

Founded : 1923 Founders : Harry, Jack, Albert and Sam Warner

Subsidiaries :  DC Films, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros Pictures, Castle Rock, Cartoon Network Mascot : Bugs Bunny

How To Get To Warner Bros Studio Tour In Hollywood

Warner Bros Studio tour is located in Burbank, Los Angeles. The easiest way to find it on a map is by looking to the North West corner of Griffith Park.

LA is huge and traffic is renowned for being congested. If you have your own vehicle and don’t mind driving across the city, there is an underground parking garage right beneath the WB building.

No matter if your hotel is in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills or Hollywood, your most efficient route is to drive up Cahuenga Boulevard. Take the right turn at Barham Boulevard which transitions into W. Olive Ave. Turn right onto West Riverside Drive and right onto Warner Boulevard. Follow signs for tour parking.

Note : Driving in LA is not a lot of fun so consider arriving by other means if you’re not the most confident driver!

If you don’t have your own vehicle or you’d prefer to leave it parked at the hotel, you’ll need to use the metro and/or Uber or Lyft.

• Cheapest option  – Metro B Line (Red) stops at Universal City/Studios. This is the closest you can get by Metro and your options are either walk 2.4 miles or take a Lyft/Uber.
• Most convenient option  – Simply have a Lyft/Uber pick you up wherever you are in LA. But this will cost more!

Getting Around The Studio Complex

The tour is well organized, they’ve been doing it a long time and have cracked the ‘guest arrival efficiency’ code. You will wait in a lounge type area for your designated time slot before beginning the tour.

A brief welcome movie in an intimate cinema setting introduces you to the day ahead, then it’s straight on with meeting your guide and hitting the road.

You will be transported around the Warner Bros studio tour by 9-10 seater electric powered carts. However, there are plenty of walking parts where you can stretch your legs so no need to worry about being cramped up for a few hours.

You are not allowed to wander off on a rogue mission to find famous people and the guides will keep a close eye on your group. 

It is important to remember this is a working studio, which means there could be several tv shows and movies being filmed at the time of your tour. Correct etiquette is non-negotiable!

Driving from San Francisco to San Diego? Don’t miss these 23 unforgettable  Pacific Coast Highway road trip  stops along the way.

Warner Bros Studio Tour FAQ’s

How Long is the Warner Bros Studio Tour?

Expect the tour to take approximately 3 hours. That includes 2 hours guided tour and 1 hour self guided at Studio 48 at the end of your tour.

Can You Take Pictures on the Warner Bros Tour?

You can take photos but only at certain allocated times. Your guide will inform you at every stop and in between whether or not photography is permitted but video is not permitted at any point of the tour.

Which Movies Are Associated With Warner Bros?

We can’t list every film from such a historic and comprehensive catalogue but some more recent movies include The Matrix Trilogy, The Hobbit (and LOTR under New Line Cinema), Batman (including Dark Knight Trilogy), Harry Potter, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, The Hangover, 300, Twister, The Departed, Mad Max, Oceans 8, 11, 12 & 13 … and the distinguished list goes on!

What Is Included In The Warner Bros Studio Tour?

So now you know how to get there, let’s dive into exactly what you can expect from this world famous studio tour.

One of the most important things to remember from this review is no two tours are the same. Each time slot throughout the day will plot a different route through the studio grounds.

That means what we saw on our tour will not be identical to what you will see on yours!

Backlots & Soundstages

Warner Bros is home to 10 backlots and 30 sound stages. But what are backlots and soundstages exactly?

Backlots are permanent exterior buildings used for outdoor scenes in movies and tv shows. Think the old west or New York buildings.

One example is the alleyway where Tobey Maguire hangs upside down as Spiderman to kiss Mary-Jane. That same alley and brick building surrounding has also been used in other major blockbuster movies.

Once widely used in cinema, the use of backlots quickly diminished as movies began shooting with actors physically on location and as CGI technology advanced.

Sound stages (or just Stages) are huge sound-proof warehouse like buildings where many of the major movies film scenes that are not on location. Entire sets are constructed inside these buildings and can stay in place for as long as necessary.

The entire series of Friends was filmed inside studio 24 and Saito’s castle scenes from Inception were filmed inside Stage 16. We won’t give any more away!

On the outside of every Stage building is a plaque showing each of the movies and TV shows filmed inside that particular Stage.

You will be able to go inside and walk around one Stage to view the set of a currently running TV show.

On our visit we went inside the full sized apartment of ‘Lucifer’.  We were also told that Denzel Washington was on the premises shooting scenes for a movie.

Old Movie Props

Old movie props might not sound exciting but when you get there you will see why it is one of the best stops on the Warner Bros studio tour.

Remember the 2 faded red leather chairs from the Matrix? The neon Comedy Club sign from Joker? How about the armor worn by Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe in the Last Samurai? 

All of these and (so much!) more can be found inside the prop storage building. We were even lucky enough to see the building next door with its shutter open.

What was inside?

Only Phoebe’s taxi from Friends and Austin Powers’ Shaguar!

You are guaranteed to see props from some of your favorite movies when you walk around this building.

Many will be a surprise because who really knows which movie studio produced their favorite movies?!

DC Universe Exhibit

Any superhero fans out there? At Warner Bros it’s best if you’re team DC and not team Marvel!

One of your first stops will be to walk around DC’s Aquaman and Wonderwoman exhibits. The majority of displays are costume design and accessories, such as Diana Prince’s Lasso and Arthur Curry’s armored suit.

Although not overly exciting, this part of the tour does allow you to appreciate other elements of what makes movies so engaging.

Who ever looks to see who the costume designer was in the end credits?

But when you stop to think about it – costumes, weapons, design etc are vital to every movie!

Hmm, Mark has some work to do in the gym to emulate Jason Momoa holding the trident.

The Wizarding World

Another stop on the Warner Bros studio tour is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. You will walk a one way route around all things Hogwarts, Dumbledores Army, Newt Scamander and Grindelwald.

Now, we implore you not to get too excited, this is not like the Harry Potter tour in London where you can see full sets.  We wouldn’t recommend choosing Warner Bros based solely on your love for the Harry Potter franchise!

What you do get to see is authentic props like Dobby the House Elf and the sorting hat, plus real costumes worn by most of the main characters.

All of your favorite wizards outfits are on display and it is kind of fun to imagine the actors being there in person … o r putting on one of the costumes yourself, picking up a wand and shouting ‘Expelliarmus’.

However, the most interesting part for us personally was being able to see some of the original storyboards. It’s fascinating to see how the drawings compare to the end product on screen.

Maybe you were wondering why we didn’t mention Batman in the earlier DC Universe section? Well, that’s because there’s an entire Batcave dedicated to the caped crusader!

Personally, we loved the Christopher Nolan / Christian Bale Dark Knight trilogy, so getting to see the tumbler and Batpod was pretty cool!

The room is very dark and looks more like a strange car showroom with purple lights but information plaques do have individual lights for reading.

Also inside the Batcave are replicas of the Neutron Bomb from DKR, and older Batmobiles like the Bathammer from Clooney, Keaton and Kilmer eras.

Even the Batsuit Christian Bale wore is on display!

Stage is 48 is called Script to Screen, which means you get an insight into what happens at pre-production, production and post-production stages of making a movie.

This is another aspect of filmmaking that often gets overlooked by the average movie watcher.

But consider editing, sound, casting, green screens for CGI etc – a movie cannot be made without these elements.

This section of the Warner Bros studio tour is self guided and interactive. The best thing you can do is ask questions and explore every part of production.

You could rush through in 10 minutes or easily spend an hour looking at storyboards and creating costumes for a movie. It is the first time you are able to slow down and read everything.

You can also ride Harry Potters Firebolt broom or Batmans Batpod with a green screen behind. A guide will instruct you to ‘turn left’ or ‘cast a spell’ as you watch yourself on a monitor.

This is of course being filmed and you can buy a video souvenir but they are not cheap and we personally did not buy one.

It’s hard to get into character when you don’t have the full Batsuit on shouting WHERE’S THE TRIGGER at Bane in your deepest and harshest voice (with a peg on your nose)!

For us, the best (and only real unmissable) part of Studio 48 is the sound engineer insight called ‘art of sound’.  A guide will explain to you how sound was composed in space for the movie Gravity, it’s a truly fascinating and intriguing part of the tour.

Oh, and you can hold a shiny Oscar, like Mark winning his Best Actor award from the 1950’s.

Central Perk

Fans of TV show Friends will enjoy the entire authentic set of Central Perk cafe.

You can take a seat on the famous sofa, order coffee from imaginary Gunther and maybe even pretend that you are also being paid US$ 1 million per episode!

With a total of 236 episodes, Friends has to be regarded as one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time, right?! Classic feel good background noise at worst, engaging emotional rollercoaster at best!

It is one of the only American sitcoms that used to get replayed over and over again growing up in the UK but is still widely adored.

Netflix even paid over US$ 100 million for rights to stream re-runs between 2014 and 2019. Not bad for a show that finished all the way back in 2004. #timeless

Big Bang Theory

Moving swiftly onto another show where you can imagine earning a cool million per episode is one of America’s favorites: Big Bang Theory.

Big Bang is the longest running multi camera sitcom in history with almost 280 episodes across 12 seasons.

Imagine how much time each of the main actors playing Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, Penny and Howard spent filming in front of live audiences at Warner Bros!

Much like the Central Perk set, Big Bang sets Caltech Cafe, the Elevator and Apartment 4a can all be explored as part of the tour in Studio 48.

Tour Guides At Warner Bros

We’ll take a wild guess you consider yourself a bit of a TV and movie buff? We thought so too, but we were wrong.

Our tour guide set the benchmark for being considered a bona fide movie buff. Shout out to Erik, this guy lived for it!

These giant world beating movie studios want to give the best possible experience for those who travel from around the world to get behind the scenes of their favorite TV shows and movies.

The guides have to be fantastic, it is as simple as that.

Our advice to you is speak up whenever you have a question about anything. Ask away and your guide will enjoy responding!

Warner Bros Studio Tour Price

Warner Bros offers what is widely regarded as the best pure movie lovers tour out of all the studios in LA. We didn’t tour the other studio so can’t give a definitive agree or disagree on that claim.

If you truly love TV and movies, the price here won’t matter too much because you’re going to pay it anyway!

An adult ticket for the Warner Bros studio tour will set you back a fairly hefty sum of US$ 69 .

Which is the Best Studio Tour in LA?

Now you know what to expect and the price of Warner Bros, it’s important you know the most pertinent information about each of the competition.

There are 4 major movie studios to choose between in Los Angeles.

What are the most important aspects for you to consider when choosing which studio you want to visit?

Is it price, which movies they made, location (ease of access), what you will see or something else entirely?

We created this Warner Bros, Sony, Paramount and Universal comparison table to look at pros, cons and differences of each tour and to help you determine if Warner Bros studio tour is the one for you.

Warner Bros vs Sony vs Paramount vs Universal Studio Tours

Is warner bros studio tour worth your time and money.

Warner Bros is worth your money as long as you have some interest in Harry Potter, Batman, DC universe characters, friends or Big Bang Theory. Consider choosing one of the other studios if none of that sounds exciting!

Let’s take a quick look at what we liked, didn’t like and how much we would pay for this tour.

What Was Hot

• The sheer scale and magnitude of the Warner Bros studio grounds.
• We thought it would be more about sets and backlots but thoroughly enjoyed the costumes, props and production aspects.
• Our guide was extremely knowledgable about the industry and always had informative answers to questions.
• The tour is longer than any other studio offers (for the basic package).
• Parking the car was not a problem thanks to the multi-story underground parking lot. 

What Was Not

• Tours leave every 30 minutes from 8.30am – 3pm so it can at times feel a little like you’re on a conveyor belt of tourists. You will run into a number of other tour groups throughout.
• The tour slightly lacked a personal touch overall and would benefit from a few freebies or take homes.
• Paying for parking adds a further US$ 15 to the overall ticket price and we think that is a bit harsh as tickets are already expensive enough.
• In certain exhibits (such as DC Universe and Wizarding World) the tour group moves too quickly which makes it difficult to read all information boards.

It is definitely worth mentioning the GO Los Angeles card for those of you who intend to do more tourist attractions on your visit to Los Angeles.

You can seriously save money with this card but only if you get busy!

You have two options:

• Explorer Pass – 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 ATTRACTIONS (value & savings increase the more attractions you do). Click to see options .
• All Inclusive Pass – 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 DAY pass (value & savings increase the more days you do). Click to see options .

Warner Bros studio tour is included in all pass options. You could potentially save a substantial amount of money by including this tour with others in Los Angeles.

What Is A Fair Price?

We personally thought the Warner Bros studio tour was worth US$ 69 each. We probably would have paid up to around 80-90 dollars but any more and we would have written it off.

It’s not every day you get to go behind the scenes of a movie studio, especially when you’re a big fan of movies.

You have to set a reference point, like paying 10 bucks for a beer at a Dodgers ball game or US$ 100+ on a meal out in Beverly Hills and entrance to Warner Bros won’t seem so high!

If you love movies and have a morning or afternoon spare on your Los Angeles itinerary, we think the Warner Bros studio tour could be the one for you.

It certainly didn’t disappoint us.

Buy Tickets For Warner Bros Studio Tour

Are you sold on Warner Bros?

You can book your tickets right now with two options offering the same price:

• Get Your Guide

If you choose to take a tour of Warner Bros Studio in Hollywood, we hope you have a fantastic time!

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We hope this review helped you decide if the Warner Bros Studio Tour is for you!

Did you go to Universal, Sony or Paramount and how was it?

Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your visit to LA in the comments below.

That’s All, Folks !

Mark and Kristen

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Mark and Kristen Morgan are travel, hiking and photography experts. Over the last 6 years traveling full time, they have explored more than 40 countries and 30 US states.

Where Are Those Morgans has been featured in USA Today, Gestalten, Get Your Guide, CityPASS and Condé Nast Traveler along with various other publications. Read more about us .

2 thoughts on “Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood Review: Is It Worth The Money?”

They tell you to get there a half hour early, our tour time was 1100, we waited until after 1140 for the video to begin

Thanks for sharing your experience, Terry. The FAQ’s page on the Warner Bros Hollywood Tour site does state “plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour” so you can find a parking spot, check in and pass through the security checks before your time slot. Hope you enjoyed the tour!

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Fast forward to 2023 and the Warner Brothers Studio Tour is still great – but has been streamlined with even more unique experiences for visitors.

Buying Tickets And Starting The Studio Tour

The ticket buying process is simple – you can purchase them online and see right away which tours are still available. The studio has a paid parking garage which is immediately next to the entrance where you’ll start your tour.

You’ll begin the experience with a video presentation that lasts about ten minutes and gives a nice overview of the studio’s history, location, and what you can expect as the tour begins.

As you exit the theater, one of the tour guides will drive you around the backlot on a small tram that holds about 15 people. It’s not a crowded experience – each tour is quite intimate and you shouldn’t have any trouble at all hearing the trivia tidbits or seeing things they’ll point out along the way.

The Warner Brothers Studio Tour finally begins!

You’re likely to see some notable locations as you cruise around the lot. For fans of the show Friends , you’ll see where they filmed the introduction of the popular sitcom and splashed around in the “Friends fountain.” You also may spot the Tanner’s San Francisco home from Fuller House or the cafe featured in Shameless . Be on the lookout for the courthouse – it’s used in many films but notably was where Batman & Robin went to visit Commissioner Gordon in the 60s TV series Batman .

While you’re on the backlot tour you’ll likely stop to see one of the actual production sets for a current television show. Back in 2007 – I remember getting to visit the sets of The West Wing; ER; and Gilmore Girls. Since I don’t watch much television these days, I wasn’t really familiar with the sets we were able to see this time. The good news is – even if you don’t know the show, it’s still really interesting being on a sound stage and seeing how they produce television programs.

You’ll also likely visit some of the empty facades which line the streets of the backlot. It’s interesting to hear which classic films or shows previously used the same buildings – with different paint jobs or decorations. Warner Brothers is known for making good use of everything they already have built! It’s cool how many of these buildings you get to see during the Warner Brothers Studio Tour!

Dress Appropriately For The Tour!

The first part of the tour is almost completely outside (the tram has no doors or windows) and you’ll be subject to whatever the weather happens to be doing. Bring a light jacket in the winter months or prepare to be hot in the summer months.

Explore Warner Brothers Studio Tour Visitors Center

The second part of the tour takes place in a visitors center where you’re able to take as much time as you want to explore. You can even grab a bite to eat! It’s here where you are able to have some really interesting hands-on experiences and learn about the production process that takes place at Warner Brothers.

You’ll have a chance to try your hand at voiceovers and see how sound effects are produced for films. You’ll learn about the process for creating a musical soundtrack and how to creatively use camera angles. There are quite a few wardrobe pieces on display from notable films and even a section of drawing cartoons – like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.

See The Set of Friends and Big Bang Theory Set

The most popular attraction for guests at the visitors center is getting to see the Friends set. The iconic sitcom is still popular and people love getting the chance to sit on the Friends couch.

Personally, my favorite part of the Warner Brothers Studio Tour was having the chance to sit in Sheldon’s spot on the set of The Big Bang Theory. For no additional charge, you can have your photo taken while you visit the set Friends or see the Big Bang Theory set. (They also offer a paid version if you’d prefer a higher quality image. I just used my Iphone!)

Now on to the third and final part of the Warner Brothers Studio Tour – a tram whisks you away to another building that’s connected to where you started your tour. This building has memorabilia and artifacts from various Warner Brothers productions like Batman Returns, Superman, and Harry Potter. (I’ve honestly never seen Harry Potter – but if you read the books or watched the movies – this is something you’d probably really enjoy.)

Again – you’re allowed to take your time browsing and once you’re finished, you’ll exit back into the main lobby where you can go through the Warner Brothers Studio Tour gift shop or head back to your car in the garage.

Is Warner Brothers Studio Tour Worth It?

Overall, the Warner Brothers Studio Tour is a great bargain if you’re looking for the best backlot tour in Los Angeles. If you can find a southern California resident to tag along – the tickets are about $10 cheaper!

You can find tickets and tour times on their website . They also offer a “deluxe” tour experience for a much higher price – but for the average person – the general tour is going to be more than enough.

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We Explore and Rank the Best Studio Tours in Hollywood

Finding the best studio tours in Hollywood is tricky.

Because there are so many of them!

When visiting Los Angeles there really isn’t anything better for a film lover to do than to visit one of the infamous studio tours. But which studio do you visit?

With such a wide range of options, we have done the hard work for you and have ranked the best to worst Hollywood studio tours.

The Best Studio Tours in Hollywood

With the list below being my own personal opinion, you may have different choices and tastes.

Consider this a guide for your next Los Angeles adventure.

1. Warner Brothers Studio Tour

Situated in Burbank the Warner Brothers Studio Tour is simply the best.

Mixing film education with an absolutely incredible tour it is above and beyond what you’d expect a studio tour to be.

Get ready, this one is a MUST VISIT!

Warner Brothers actually offer the most in terms of range when it comes to the tours. There are three options to choose from!

Warner Brothers Standard tour

Hop on board the open-sided vehicle and head into one of the most iconic movie studios in Hollywood.

Every single tour is different from the last but what you can expect is to visit various backlots and sound stages of various productions and it’s a guarantee you’ll visit such classic sets as The Big Bang Theory and the iconic Central Perk from Friends.

You’ll also explore the DC Universe exhibit in addition to a wizarding world exhibit in the Warner Bros museum where you can look around at your own leisure at all the movie props and costumes.

On the tour, you’ll also be taken into Stage 48 where you’ll step into an immersive world of seeing a movie go from script to screen.

From pre to post-production you can see how a movie is pieced together and the interactive elements are sure to keep you engaged from start to finish.

This added touch to an already perfect tour shows just how much the public and their entertainment means to Warner Bros.

Warner Brothers Classic tour

This is the only tour on the list that I haven’t personally experienced but I imagine it’s very similar to the structure of the normal tour.

As you drive around the back lot a tour guide will guide you through the studio tour themed to classic movies and TV shows rather than modern ones.

The perfect gift for the older generation or even the younger soul who appreciates the good classics. The modern  Stage 48 is also included as part of the tour but the classics tour also includes a tour of The Prop House.

I’d personally want to go on the classics tour JUST to see The Prop House.

That really should be included on the normal tour too!

Warner Brothers Deluxe tour

The Warner Bros Deluxe Tour is without a doubt the best Hollywood experience I had at a studio. The deluxe tour is the ultimate experience.

If you’re travelling to Los Angeles to do movie tours and have the cash to splash this is one experience that you’ll never forget.

This 5-hour in-depth tour takes you through the whole studio. In and out of live sets and the two times I did the deluxe tour I actually spotted a celebrity.

The studio is a live working studio so on any tour you can expect to spot a known talent at any given moment.

With the deluxe tour, you get to eat in the fine dining room. An exclusive dining experience where studio execs, talent and more all gather to have meetings over a nice spot of lunch prepared by an executive chef.

The food was outstanding and we saw so many big named talent in there it was unbelievable.

Naturally, you really shouldn’t approach them but we did have the studio executive approach our tour to say hello so you just never know who you may meet during your very own tour.

The day starts off with a complimentary drink and breakfast and then into a private screening room for a little introduction to the studio.

The 5 hours fly by from exploring the museum to seeing the Batmobile collection. As well as the costume department (only available on the deluxe tour) you also explore the props department.

Warner Bros Tour Comparison Chart

Out of the best studio tours in Hollywood. No, THE best studio tour in Hollywood! Warner Brothers will always be number one for me! 

I had so much of a great time on the tour that when I flew back over to LA a few months later and I did it all again and it was completely different.

That’s the magic of these tours. No two days are the same!

Book A Warner Bros Studio Tour Here

2. Universal Studios Tour

The second place on our best studio tours in Hollywood list is Universal Studios.

Universal Studios combines a studio with a theme park in this incredibly exciting experience. Here we have two options to choose from. A standard tour and a VIP experience.

Standard tour (Inclusive of park entry price)

This 60-minute experience will take you through four acres of the historic studio lot.

Jump into your Universal tram and explore some large construction sets whilst being narrated by the one and only Jimmy Fallon.

This is a tour like no other as your tram actually becomes part of various interactions including a subway earthquake scene, a 4D experience and some epic special effects set pieces that showcase various effects used in movies.

Drive past such iconic structures as Bates Motel and step into the grand finale of Fast & Furious Supercharged.

The standard tour is a thrill ride mixed with information about the studio itself. Whilst a fun ride it’s not very informative.

If you want an informative tour then Warner Bros are the clear winners here.

If you want some extra fun on your tour you can’t go wrong with Universal.

Once the tour has finished you’re free to explore what the rest of the theme park has to offer.

Universal Studios VIP Experience – Price – $299 per person

It’s a tough choice between this VIP experience and the Warner Brothers one.

As stated above if you want a more informative and deeper look into how a studio works then Warner Brothers are unrivalled but if you want an epic VIP tour and THEN access to a theme park thereafter then Universal is the way to go.

The VIP Universal experience is a full-day experience.

Arrive at Universal Studios, flash the VIP pass and enjoy your own valet parking.

Upon entering into a private VIP building you are served breakfast as you await your call time before setting off in a VIP tram with comfy leather seats and complimentary drinks as you drive around set.

Whilst the normal tram tour just drives on by the VIP tour park up, get off as you tour sound stages and movie sets from the biggest shows and films ever created.

Visit the prop department and more as you can take a sneak peek behind the scenes.

Feel Like A Star

Universal doesn’t usually have as much going on compared to Warner Brothers when it comes to activity on the production lot, as a result, the two times I visited the studio section was rather empty but maybe I just attended on a quiet day. Unfortunately we didn’t see any stars this time around.

Your personal tour guide takes you throughout the studio and you enjoy a lovely gourmet meal in a private dining room.

Once you’ve had your food the real fun begins.

Your tour guide will personally walk you to the front of every single ride in the park and you will get front row seats at every show in the park with your VIP badge.

You can ride the rides as many times as you want once the tour is open and your VIP badge will shoot you to the front of the queue every single time.

With such rides as the brand new Jurassic World water ride and the new Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey expansion, you’ll really feel like a star with the Universal Studios VIP pass.

I think I went on The Mummy rollercoaster 12 times in a row and kept walking past people who had been queuing for over 30 minutes.

Ignore the envious looks and just have yourself a wonderful time!

Book A Universal Studios Tour Here

3. Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

Third on our list is Paramount Pictures who offer two tours, a standard tour, and a VIP tour.

Standard Tour – Price $60

This 2-hour cart tour takes you on a little journey around the studio as you visit infamous locations like the Bronson Gate, the prop house and more.

For me, the Paramount tour was quite dull. With Paramount being a much smaller studio the driving areas are narrow and limited.

Most of the tour involved parking up somewhere and being spoken to.

As much as it was interesting to hear about the studio we were usually parked up next to a brick wall, an iconic brick wall but a brick wall nonetheless.

I was a little bored throughout the tour until we ran into Ken Jeong (Hangover) who was on the lot filming and Kevin Hart was also filming a show as our tour was taking place.

This made the tour worth every penny as we were right next to these Hollywood giants and seeing them at work.

If I hadn’t have seen these two I would have had a very poor experience. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

There was nothing to keep me hooked and it felt as though we were being taken around an office building rather than an iconic studio.

There was sadly no magic or effort made from the studio to cater for their tour guests.

VIP Tour – Price $189

This 4 and a half hour tour gives you VIP access to archives and backlot production facilities. The VIP upgrade is 100 times better than that of the rather dull standard tour!

You are taken around the inner workings of the studio and not just the brick walls that make up the studio and get hands-on with props and speak to members of staff working on various movies.

You are physically introduced to people within the studio and this could include stars.

For dinner, you will enjoy a gourmet lunch in a private production dining room and this exclusivity makes for all the more enjoyable experience.

Seriously, forget the standard tour. I felt as though I had wasted my money. Take the leap and bump yourselves up to the VIP tour. You won’t regret it!

Instead of seeing Kevin Hart and Ken Jeong there was more chance of meeting them and getting photos with them if I had taken the VIP tour.

I’m still kicking myself even now!

Book A Paramount Studio Tour Here

4. Sony Pictures Studio Tour – $50

Step back in time, walk through those iconic gates and enjoy this 2-hour walking tour.

Sony only offers a standard tour, there are no VIP upgrades available.

Take a look at sound stages, sets including Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. The sony tour just lets you walk around a visually stunning studio in the glorious LA sunshine.

With various picture opportunities (including the Breaking Bad RV and ECTO-1 from Ghostbusters ) I can’t really pick out a highlight of the tour.

The tour office houses some iconic Sony movie props and that was before the tour even started and free to view for any member of the public.

The best bit of the tour was the museum which was free to explore.

Instead of going through movie history, the majority of the tour is looking at TV game shows that I couldn’t care less about.

If you’re a TV gameshow fanatic then Sony Pictures is for you.

If you love your movies then look elsewhere.

A tour guide pointing to a car park and saying this is where we shot a scene from The Holiday starring Cameron wasn’t my idea of informative, immersive or interesting.

Easy the worst tour on the list and the price reflects that.

To be honest even the $50 they do charge seems overpriced. Very much so.

The best part about the tour was the mini-museum that was located within the reception building and that’s free!

The standard tour at Warner Brothers is only $60 and the experience there is much more involved and interesting.

Book A Sony Pictures Tour Here

As far as the best studio tours in Hollywood goes the clear winner here is Warner Brothers. They have the full package for an all-round studio tour experience.

Universal could easily be a number one but for me as a studio experience, you want to go to Warner Brothers.

With Universal Studios being more of a theme park it dampens the studio experience somewhat. You’re on the tour aching to get inside the park properly and jump on the rides!

It doesn’t feel as detailed or as movie focused. It’s very much more family targeted.

The tram is a theme park-style experience not an informative tour, it was very commercialized. Which is fine. But for a genuine studio tour, Warners takes the crown every single day of the week.

I absolutely recommend the VIP upgrades on all of the studio tours. You will absolutely regret it and at no point did I feel short-changed on any of them.

You get the full experience and some great photos to remember it by.

Create some memories and who knows, you might just meet a celebrity along the way!

Thanks for checking out our Best Studio Tours in Hollywood post!

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Owner of Back to the Movies and Born in Stoke on Trent Sean Evans set up this website to talk about films the way you'd talk to your friends about them. No critics, just fans.

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2 thoughts on “ we explore and rank the best studio tours in hollywood ”.

Thank you so much. This was such an informative and helpful review of the studios. Exactly what i was looking for. Thanks

Thank you Michael, this is an old article but the general premise remains the same and WB is still miles ahead in terms of tour quality.

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Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood: Honest Review (2024)

Iconic TV and movie sets. Working Hollywood actors roaming past your tour group. New York, San Francisco, and small town America all in one place.

In this Warner Brothers studio tour review, we’re sharing exactly what it’s like stepping foot into Warner Brothers Studio in Hollywood and embarking on one of their incredible studio and backlot experiences.

Unlike other tours around the world, this is a current working film and TV studios.

The people you pass aren’t actors (well, they are actors, but they aren’t acting as if they’re real movie and TV crew when they’re not – you know what I mean!)

And while you will see sets that have been frozen in time on the WB Studio Tour (Friends set, we’re looking at you!), you’ll also experience the constantly changing backlot.

It’s a dream come true for movie and TV fans to get to explore one of the oldest studios in the entire world, and after reading this Warner Bros tour review, you’ll know exactly what to expect and how to make the most of your time here.

Please note this is about the Warner Brothers Hollywood Studio Tour in Los Angeles, not the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London, England.

💰 Top tip: want the cheapest Warner Brothers Studio tour tickets ?

We always book them on this site for the best deals!

What to Expect at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in Los Angeles

From the iconic Friends fountain and orange couch to facades of the exterior of houses that you’ll recognize from everything from Growing Pains (1980s) to Fuller House (2020s), there’s something memorable literally around every corner on the Warner Bros tour.

We couldn’t possibly cover everything you’ll see, and we wouldn’t want to because part of the fun is the element of surprise.

Instead, we’ll touch on some highlights to get you excited and give you some of the best tips for making the most of your day.

Practical Tips for Visiting the Warner Bros Tour

Buying tickets to the wb studio tour.

Buying tickets to the studio tour needs to be done before your visit, but it’s very easy to buy them online here.

Prices are $69 per adult and $59 per child, and you’ll just keep your confirmation e-mail with you as you go through the experience and arrival process.

Discounts and Cheap Tickets for Warner Bros Studio Tour

Sometimes, you can find discounted tickets for the tour using a couple of different methods.

Firstly, if you’re a SoCal resident, you get discounted tickets anyway as long as you have proof of residency.

If you’re not from the area, sign up for the mailing list through the official website for the chance to keep an eye on any promo codes (they aren’t frequent, but there is a space on the booking site for promo codes so it is possible).

Alternatively, check out the Warner Brother Studios Tour on Undercover Tourist here , as they often have discounted tickets available for about $5-10 off the regular price.

Opening Days and Times

Currently, the Warner Bros Studio Tour is open five days a week, excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

On days they are open, the first tour usually begins at 9am and the last tour begins at 3:30pm (again, you have unguided time to walk through afterwards).

How Long is the Warner Bros Studio Tour?

The guided portion of the tour is about 1 hour, and you should leave about 2 to 3 hours total as the rest will be unguided at your own pace.

Parking at Warner Bros Studio LA

Los Angeles is a driving city, which means your main options to get to the tour are either driving yourself or taking an Uber or Lyft.

If driving yourself, parking is $15 and is located in a dedicated, security-guarded parking lot adjacent to the Warner Bros main visitor building ( 3400 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505 ).

If you get an Uber, they are allowed to drop you off and pick you up right outside the visitor building in a dedicated rideshare landing zone.

The Warner Bros Tour website also makes mentions of buses and trains that can “get you” to the tour, but these are convoluted and long processes and they’re only going to drop you off a quarter mile away from the tour.

Stick to the Uber or driving yourself.

Arrival and Movie

When you first get to the visitor center, you’ll show your tour confirmation and go through an airport-style security section.

Then, before you know it, you’re in!

You can check out the café and shop, or you can save that until afterwards and head straight to the first part of the tour, the Storytelling Showcase.

This is a look-in-your-own-time room with plenty of artifacts from movie studio history, including letters to and from famous studio execs, address books that include Walt Disney’s information, and a year-by-year rundown of how the Warner Brothers started the studio in the first place.

When you’re ready, you make your way to the start of the official guided tour, the backlot tour, where you’ll get in a line similar to a theme park ride line and wait until it’s time for the next tour to depart.

Note: Despite the tour entry time on your confirmation page, tours do run continually and they will get you on the next one. Aim to arrive at the Studios so that you are entering the main visitor center 10-15 minutes before the time on your confirmation if you want to make sure you’re on that tour, or arrive at the visitor center at the time it says on your confirmation and then just know you’ll get on the next tour when you’ve made your way back to the starting area – they really do run frequently.

Warner Brother Studios Backlot Tour

The Backlot tour, for many people, is the best part of the Warner Brother Studios tour.

This is the main, guided, section, where you hop on the iconic little trams with your tour guide and driver and wind your way around the real, working Warner Brothers backlot.

Not only will you pass by the buildings that house the interior sets, but you’ll get to see many of the exterior sets that have been used for so many of your favorite movies and TV shows (and you may be surprised how easily they are to recycle and use again and again!)

One of the most fascinating sets is Warner Village, which is actually a collection of offices within houses that replicates a typical American street.

These are exterior sets only, in case you need a front yard or standard American street to film in.

Then you’ve got the Midwest Residential Street, which is where you’ll find the famous Gilmore Girls sets like the chapel, “Luke’s Diner” and that gazebo in the middle of the park.

You’ll also see the brownstones, a classic New York style area, as well as the exterior of a school, a bank, and more industrial areas.

Along the way, your guide will point out many of the most important productions that have been filmed using these locations and, better yet, they’ll ask you ahead of time what your favorite Warner Brothers productions are so they can be sure to point out filming locations that you might be interested in.

You’ll pass by actor’s trailers, often see real productions taking place (and in that case, you may be rerouted as they need all to be quiet on set!), and you will get down a couple of times from the vehicle and get to explore with your guide on foot.

We saw production designers working on a set for a new scene for an upcoming Warner Brothers movie, as well as plenty of movie and TV crew who were milling around, eating their lunches and going from set to set.

The energy here is electric.

Even when there isn’t filming taking place, you can feel that this is truly a place where magic is created and history is made.

One of the most famous outdoor sets includes the fountain from the Friends intro.

This is the real fountain – it was filmed here, on the studio, not on location in New York.

When you pass by the soundstages, where interior sets are built, you can take pictures unless the doors are up.

If the doors are up, there may be sets inside that you can see on the tour, but cannot be shared via photo with anyone else as it may be a spoiler for an upcoming episode or movie.

Oh, and did I mention celebrities?

Yes, those working actors show up to the Warner Brother Studios for work, and they have to walk around like the rest of the crew!

If you see someone you recognize, the etiquette is simply to keep your mouth shut and enjoy a spotting.

Don’t yell at them, run towards them, or do anything besides a kind wave if they happen to make eye contact.

It’s not because the actors themselves are stuck up or don’t want to meet fans, but with tours running continuously, it’s easy to make them feel like they’re an animal in a zoo and at the end of the day, they’re a professional who is at work, not roaming the streets of Beverly Hills, so let them get on with their day.

Self-Guided Warner Brothers Studio Tour

After your backlot tour is over, you’ll be taken by your driver to the self-guided portion of the tour, which takes you through more movie and TV history as well as some of the world’s most famous soundstages.

Some of the first exhibits you pass by include information on the actual movie-making process, from the writing to the casting to the costume design.

Friends Set and Café at Warner Brother Studios

Friends fans, listen up.

This is it.

The moment you’ve been waiting for.

Friends is one of the most-watched shows in the world, particularly in syndication and has been beloved by fans since it was on air from 1994 to 2004.

While it was set in New York City, it was mostly filmed in Los Angeles at the studios, and the interior Central Perk set is now available for fans to see in-person.

Yes, the original Friends cafe set, almost as it was during filming, is there in Studio 48 in all of its glory, waiting for you to discover it.

You won’t be allowed to roam around the real set too much because they don’t want it to be damaged, but you can get your picture taken on the famous couch!

If you want to spend more time in the Friends world, the Friends café at the end of the self-guided part of the tour is the perfect place to do that.

Grab a coffee, sit on the replica orange couch, and enjoy the replica sets including Monica’s apartment, Monica’s kitchen, and Chandler and Joey’s place!

Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory is another popular show that has retained its sets for fans to view, and if you want, you can also get some of your pictures taken here pretending that you live in the same world as these characters.

Other Exhibits at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour

From the real Batmobile to a Harry Potter exhibit featuring some props to iconic superhero costumes, there really is something for everyone on this tour no matter your movie tastes.

Again, so much has been filmed here, from superhero movies to La La Land to Pretty Little Liars to Gilmore Girls to Fuller House to Growing Pains to some older movies that used the original exterior soundstages.

Warner Brothers Studio Tour Gift Shop and Exit

When you exit into the main visitor area, you’ll get to experience the incredible gift shop, which is one of the best gift shops I’ve ever been in.

There’s a big emphasis on merch that you can only buy here (there is also Friends store connected to the Friends café for exclusive items).

I purchased some Gilmore Girls memorabilia, as well as some Warner Brothers studio merch including a T-shirt and coaster.

It’s hard to get out of there without buying something, so budget some money to make sure you can get a souvenir from one of your favorite movies or shows.

Is the Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood Worth it?

The Warner Brothers Studio tour isn’t a cheap investment.

It can run a family of four into the hundreds of dollars, and the experience is about 2-3 hours long (though you can spend as much as you want after you exit the backlot tour and go to the self-guided interior section).

There are a lot of options of things to do with that money in LA, but this is the one studio tour that is an absolute must-do.

It’s the most iconic one, even better than Universal or Paramount, and the fact that it’s a working studio and you’re constantly looking for actors or being rerouted so you don’t get in the way of active filming brings an energy and excitement to the experience that makes it well worth the money involved.

Where to Eat Near Warner Bros Studio Tour: Dine with the Stars

If you’re finished at the tour and looking for somewhere to eat, head across the road to the Smoke House Restaurant .

With plush red booths and an old-timey Americana feel, this restaurant has been a favorite with celebrities over the years, including George Clooney who named his production company “Smokehouse Pictures” after the restaurant!

Prices are decent for LA and the pulled pork sandwich is one for the ages.

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Thorough Practical Experiential Travel

The Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood – A Thorough Review

I love TV.  I have one of those brains that has a hard time relaxing. One of the few ways I can get a break is to watch a show…or two.  My favorites over the years have ranged from Cheers & Seinfeld to Breaking Bad & Survivor to current favorites like Ted Lasso & Fauda. So, when I was tripping activities in the LA area for our recent Rose Bowl trip , and came across the Warner Bros Studio Tour, it seemed like a no-brainer.  A chance to see where and how TV and movies are made?  Sign me up!

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links.  If you buy something after clicking one of these links, I may earn a small commission.  This does not cost you anything extra and helps support this blog .

First, a Little History

The Warner Bros Hollywood Studio is located in Burbank, about 15 minutes north of downtown LA.  The studio was established all the way back in 1926. Films – and then TV – have been made there for almost 100 years!  The studio sits on 62 acres and is made up of outdoor movie sets, multiple sound stages, and buildings dedicated to all facets of movie & television production.  Well-known films made here include Casablanca, My Fair Lady , Goonies, and several of the Batman movies.  Well-known TV series include Friends and The Big Bang Theory.  

The Warner Bros Studio Tour is a great way to see and understand the process that goes into making film and TV.  And I will say right off the bat that the tour exceeded my expectations.  In my research, I discovered that the tour is one of the highest-rated area activities on TripAdvisor. But still, I thought our access to a busy working studio might be somewhat diluted.  Not the case!  It was an in-depth tour with a great deal of insight and access to what seemed like a big portion of the studio.  Plus, it featured a lot of really impressive interactive displays.  Let me show you….

Getting Started

Warner Bros Studio offers a few different kinds of tours. We went on the most popular – The Studio Tour.  This tour starts every 30 minutes between 8:30am and 3:30pm, 5-7 days weekly (depending on the time of year). The Studio recommends that you buy your tickets online ahead of time, though limited walkup tickets may be available depending on demand. The guided portion of the tour lasts about an hour.  Self-guided touring through various displays can take another 1-3 hours depending on how long you want to linger.  We spent 2 hours on the lot. 

You can click here to purchase tickets on Viator

Our tour started in a screening room where we watched  a short 5-minute movie quickly covering the Studio’s history. 

We were then directed outside where we divided up into smaller groups.  Each group was assigned a guide and a tour cart.  Our guide’s name was Maxx. 

The Backlot – You Might Recognize Some of This

First we drove through and explored the Backlot – a series of outdoor sets that have been constructed over the years, and have been used in countless movies and TV shows. Many of these sets date to the 1930s and all are still in use today. As Maxx took us down one street after the other, we jumped from small town Midwest to downtown New York, from tree-lined residential streets to seedy back alleys.

And we didn’t just stay in the cart. We got out and walked up and down these empty streets. We were even allowed enter a few of the buildings. Some are just empty shells like the photo below….

While others are called “Practicals” and are used for their interiors as well. In the photo below, Maxx explains how the decor of the room is changed constantly depending on what’s needed for the production, and how the open ceilings are used for gear.

Maxx also explained how even the exteriors can be adjusted. The bricks aren’t bricks. They are made of styrene and can easily be replaced in en masse for a different look. All the buildings also lack exterior features like door handles and lights, as you can see in the picture below. These are added at the time of filming, based on each production’s needs.

As we walked from location to location, Maxx would point out the storied filming history of individual streets, storefronts, and buildings. Memorable scenes like the alley for Spiderman’s upside-side down kiss, the cafe in Casablanca, the street outside Annie’s orphanage, the last shot of the Seinfeld series, and many many more.

Once back in the cart after each set, a short video would then show us each set’s transformation from one movie to another over the decades – very cool!

The Front Lot and Stage 16

Next up on the Warner Bros Studio Tour was the Front Lot. This is its collection of 30 sound stages where the interior production of films and TV takes place. Inside these huge soundproof buildings, elaborate sets are built, specific to each production.

We stopped at Stage 16. At 65 feet tall, it’s the largest on the lot and one of the tallest in the world. It also has a 2 million gallon water tank under its floor, extending another 30 feet below ground, allowing films like The Perfect Storm and Poseidon to be filmed inside.

At the time of our tour, the soundstage wasn’t in use. So we were able to walk inside and take in its cavernous enormity.

Each soundstage has a plaque on the outside listing its production history. Take a close look and you can see plenty of classics on Stage 16’s list including Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones, and Jurassic Park.

We also had the chance to drive directly through The Mill. This is the construction department where the interior sets are created.

We also drove past the large building that houses the property department. This is where all the furniture and fixtures required to dress a set are kept. We weren’t able to enter, but could see stacks of lamps and other fixtures through the windows. Maxx described the intricate cataloguing and ordering system that the Studio has set up as we passed.

After this, the guided portion of the tour ended, and Maxx dropped us off at a building called Stage 48.

Stage 48 – Friendstravaganza

Stage 48 is the first of two interactive experiences on the Warner Bros Studio Tour. And there was lots going on in this building. Most popular is the coffee shop set from the TV series Friends. I personally never watched much of Friends, but this seemed to be the highlight for a great percentage of tour participants. Here, fans can line up and get a photo on the couch. I had to act fast to get the shot below in between groups of giddy fans.

There is also a Friend’s-themed fully-functioning coffee shop inside the building. Plus, a large gift shop mostly dedicated to Friend’s paraphernalia. Important note to those who need to eat midday like I do – the coffee shop has what looked to be a decent food menu, too.

Stage 48 also features the living room set from The Big Bang Theory where fans can also pose for photos.

In addition to the sets from those two popular TV shows, Stage 48 also offers an immersive experience called Script to Screen. As we walked from room to room, we were learned about the many sequential steps involved in film and TV production. It was all very interesting, especially all the costume displays. And I finally know what a foley artist does (creates the every day sound effects that are added post-production).

To Couch or Not to Couch

It would be easy to spend several hours at Stage 48. But we breezed through pretty quick, spending about 30 minutes. When we were ready to leave, a tour cart was waiting outside, and we were taken to the final displays on the tour.

First though, while again passing through the Backlot, we were given the option to get off and have our picture taken on the couch and fountain from Friend’s opening sequence. Again, not big Friend’s fans, so we stayed on the cart and headed directly to The Archive, which is located in the main tour building.

The Archive – Where I Became Hufflepuff

First up – costumes from many of the DC Comics movies, all made by Warner Bros Studios, including Michael Keaton’s Batman and Christopher Reeves’s Superman,

Ben Affleck’s Batman and Henry Cavill’s Superman,

and one of a long line of Batmobiles used in the movie franchise – this is the Tim Burton version.

Next, was Harry Potter’s Wizarding World. Harry Potter was filmed at the Warner Bros Studio in England rather than this one, but it is still a big deal on the Hollywood Studio Tour.

Here, several Harry Potter sets and scenes were recreated for our photo-taking pleasure.

Plus, we had the opportunity to participate in a Sorting Ceremony. We may have not wanted to sit on the various Friend’s couches, but we couldn’t pass up the Sorting Ceremony! The hat was lowered on to our heads (kind of), and our House was chosen by a voice above and around us. Me – Hufflepuff! Mrs. TT – Slytherin!! I’ll have to watch out around her now….

Finally, we found ourselves in a room surrounded by various awards collected by the Studio over the years, including a few of their Oscars. This is the first time I’ve ever seen an actual Oscar. The one pictured here is My Fair Lady’s Best Picture Academy Award from 1964.

Final Thoughts

Our time on the Warner Bros Studio Tour was thoroughly enjoyable. We learned a lot about film and TV production, had much better studio access than I imagined, and we were impressed with the interactive displays. We don’t tend to linger at displays, so our tour only took about 2 hours. But I can certainly understand why the Warner Bros website states that it could take 3-4. If you love TV (or movies) as much as I do, then don’t hesitate to spend a few hours on the Warner Bros Studio Tour in Burbank. You can click here to purchase tickets on Viator

If you would like to read about some of other great tours from my travels, then check out this post about an Air Tour in Kauai , this one about Touring Ballard Locks in Seattle , or this one about a Cooking Class in Seville Spain .

And during this trip to LA, I decided to exclusively use ride share for our transportation needs rather than renting a car like I usually do. Did I save money? Yes! A lot actually. Click here to check out my blog post about Uber vs Car Rental in LA

23 Comments

Tom Smalltownplussize

I enjoyed reading about your tour. Mrs Small Town has been so I’ve heard a lot of fun stories. I can’t wait to see it myself.

thethoroughtripper

Thanks Tom! As I think back to many trips to LA over the years, it’s definitely a highlight. Not sure why I’ve never done it until now.

Paul (Paul Passing Through)

Really interesting article. I think it’s so fascinating that the outdoor sets don’t have doorknobs or light fixtures. It would be so neat to walk through those soundstages where some of my favorite films were made. I do think it’s funny that they have Harry Potter sets. It would be fun but odd knowing none of them were filmed there.

We really learned so many interesting facts like that about TV and film production. Never read any Harry Potter myself. Watched each movie with the kids, but they came out so far apart that I had a hard time remembering the full story line over all the subsequent years. Still though, couldn’t pass up getting Sorted

Peggy Zipperer

Looks like a fun tour! I am completely fascinated with the huge water stage – 30 ft underground?!?! Mind-blowing! The Harry Potter scenes are great!

And we walked right across it. Would have loved to see what it looked like underneath that floor.

David Chalem

It’s actually *Maxx

Thanks for letting me know. I’ll add the second x to her name 🙂

Chalk and cheese travels8

What a great tour to do and see all the famous sets. Something we would love to do. We took the driving tour around Universal Studios and that was fun but this looks so much better

Brian Archambault

That Batmobile isn’t from the dark knight series. It’s from the 2 Tim Burton Batman’s with Michael Keaton

Thanks for letting me know. I’ll change it. I’m clearly not a Batman expert 🙂

I loved your letter I found it really interesting id love to see it in person that and tmz tour bus tour. I’d love to see the friends set when I know I’m going to la I’m going to book a tour with wb thats for the information. Pat

Glad to know that you found it so helpful. Hope you get the chance to experience yourself!

Lisa at Following the Rivera

I would love to do this tour! I love all of the Hollywood films and of course the shows too. It’s so cool to see the sets like this, it makes it more real!

Elena at TravelByExample

That’s a place I would love to visit one day! I’m sure everyone from my family would enjoy it, and I would be the one of those giddy fans to rush to take a picture in Friend’s coffee shop :))

Vanessa Shields

What an awesome tour! This is one thing I keep saying I’m going to do but never drive up to LA to go on it. You’ve motivated me to go this year! I’d love to see all the different sets and learn about productions. That’s neat that you can see everything that’s been filmed in each stage before entering. I had no idea there was such a huge water tank in one. Filming in that must be pretty cool to see.

Dylan Jones

I love the idea of doing this tour, it looks great. It’s great that they have the names of productions filmed in the soundstages listed outside. Definitely adding this to my list when I finally get back to LA.

I would love to take the Warner Bros Studio Tour. So cool to see the magic behind the scenes! Great pics and overview!

Exactly – the magic behind the scenes! Well put!

Stefan (Berkeley Square Barbarian)

Cheers, Seinfeld & Breaking Bad are all series I loved too, especially the latter. It is amazing that the studios have been around for nearly 100 years, yes, and that the Backlot outdoor sets are still in use but lack door handles or lights…

The dimensions of Stage 16 are truly mindboggling wow..

Fascinating! I would definitely go out of my way to take this tour. I am a huge fan of Big Bang so the chance to sit in Sheldon’s “spot” would be hard to resist and My Fair Lady is one of my favourites. The tour looks interesting and informative as well as fun. I suppose my only worry might be that seeing the shell behind the facade might take away some of the magic? Probably not! The suspension of disbelief is alive and well 😊

It’s so interesting seeing how iconic films and TV shows were made. I really like that they’ve kept the historical aspects like Stage 16 and the costumes. Would love a go on the sorting hat too!

It’s hard to pass up a hat sorting!!

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Hollywood Studio Tours

Which are the best.

This post covers the most enjoyable movie studio tours in and around Hollywood.

With so many historic studios in the area, it might be difficult to pick just one to visit.

Taking a studio tour is one of the top things to do in LA .

• Studio Tours
• Celebrity Homes Tours
• Ways to Save on Tours
• LA TV Show Tickets
• Things To Do in Hollywood
• Tips from Locals and Travelers

Disclosure:  While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the  full text .

STUDIO TOURS

Interestingly enough, there are quite a few differences between the tours offered at each studio, and that should make it easier to figure out which tour best fits your expectations.

Ticket prices vary from $62 per person to literally thousands of dollars.

However, 3 of the tours, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, and Universal Studios are included for free or at a lower cost in several tourist attraction passes. 

It's also worth noting that the length of these tours can run from roughly an hour to almost a week.

With all of that said, let's start talking about what each movie studio offers with their tours.

• Warner Bros.
• Sony Pictures
• Universal Studios
• Paramount Pictures
• Adventures by Disney: Disney Backstage

At the bottom of this post , we share some thoughts and opinions from members of our Los Angeles Travel Tips group on Facebook.

Our group comprises roughly 9,000 locals (like our tour guides), tourists, returning visitors, and newbies to LA.

You don't need to be a member to read the posts, comments, and recommendations.

WARNER BROS. STUDIO TOUR

Below is a summary of our post on Warner Brothers Studio tours , where we also provide tips on planning your trip.

If you're in the market for a somewhat normal tour on the backlot, this might be one of your best bets.

In addition to seeing movie sets and sound stages from some of the most notable movies in film history, you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy a few specific activities.

  While on this movie studio tour, you'll be able to re-create a famous scene from the hit television show Friends , climb aboard Harry Potter 's broomstick, and even create your own Batmobile.

Warner Bros. even offers an interactive sound stage that explores the entire process of making a film from start to finish.

At three hours in length, this tour is probably the longest duration of all of the options in Hollywood.

• $70/adult | $60/child
• Availability: Thursday - Monday
• Hours: Every half hour from 9 am - 3:30 pm
• Duration: 3 hours
• Available in both English and Spanish
• Click here for more information .

TIP: This tour is included for free with the purchase of the Go City Los Angeles Explorer Tourist Pass .

You can also combine this tour with the Universal Studios tour using the combo deal below!

With an overall score of 4.5 out of 5 stars , it's fair to say that this Hollywood studio tour is very well rated ( read reviews here ).

Some guests have gone so far as to suggest that this trip is worth every single penny.

Visitors were typically very happy with their tour guides, referring to them as both friendly and informative. 

SONY PICTURES STUDIO TOUR

This might be the most affordable movie studio tour in Hollywood, and it's also one of the most historic. Do note, that is is a walking tour.

While on this tour, you'll see the sound stages where they recorded classics such as The Wizard of Oz and superhero flicks like Spider-man .

Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to see where Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune are recorded.

Although they don't make any promises, there's always a chance that you'll run into someone famous on this active studio back lot!

They also offer a premium tour which includes transportation via golf cart, access to the Sony Museum, a free souvenir photo, a complimentary beverage, and lower prices at the Sony Studio Store.

Tickets 

• $55 per person | $150 for the Premium tour
• Availability: Monday – Friday at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm
• Duration: 2 hours

Tip: Admission is usually included for free with the purchase of at least one Los Angeles tourist pass .

With an overall score of 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor, it's clear that this is a pretty popular Hollywood studio tour.

Customers really appreciated the opportunity to see several historic filming locations and learn a lot about the process of making a movie.

Although some reviewers were unhappy that this is a walking tour, others simply appreciated the opportunity to see where film history was made.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS TOUR

This is where things get interesting, as Universal Studios has essentially made their tour one of the services offered at their amusement park.

In other words, you need to buy a ticket for Universal Studios Hollywood in order to experience this studio tour.

Clocking in at only one hour in length, this is definitely the shortest studio tour available. Check out this video of Stephen Spielberg giving a tour of the site.

In addition to seeing the back lot, you'll also experience attractions such as the Jaws ride, King Kong 360 in 3D, Bates Motel and Fast & The Furious : Supercharged.

Although it will cost more to take this tour, it's worth noting that your ticket lasts all day and guarantees access to all of the rides. 

• $119-$139/adult | $109-$129/child
• Availability: Daily from 8 am - 6 pm
• Duration: 1 hour
• Click here for ticket information .

TIP:   Universal Studios Hollywood is included for free with the purchase of a tourist pass. Read about all the opportunities for deals in our full post .

Despite the higher price tag, this movie studio tour has still received quite excellent ratings ( read reviews here ). The overall Universal Studios Hollywood experience has a score of 4.7 out of 5 stars .

A few visitors have even suggested that this trip around the studio is worth the price of admission.

Although most customers feel that the ticket price is a bit high, even the critics can't deny that they had a blast. 

PARAMOUNT PICTURES STUDIO TOUR

Unlike the other movie studios, Paramount Pictures offers three different studio tours.

The main tour is 2 hours long and covers quite a lot of ground on the backlot.

However, if you want to experience more, their VIP tour lasts for 4 ½ hours and includes access to several additional areas.

The VIP tour also provides a gourmet lunch at a unique location in the studio.

Alternatively, you can also choose a 2 ½ hour night tour that reveals a lot of historic locations such as notable theaters and original film vaults.

No matter which option you choose, you'll learn a lot about the history of Paramount.

• $65 for the studio tour | $215 for the VIP tour
• Availability of Studio tour: Mon-Fri, every half hour from 9 AM - 3:30 PM
• Availability of VIP tour: Mon, Wed, Fri at 9:30 AM
• Duration of Studio tour: 2 hours
• Duration of VIP tour: 4 ½ hours
• Click here for additional information .

Reviews for the Paramount Pictures Studio tours are very positive, averaging a rating of 4 ½ out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor. 

Some visitors referred to the excursion as a movie buff's dream, while others were just impressed with how much they learned and discovered.

Some reviewers indicated that Paramount alters the tour slightly depending on the season, ensuring a nice variety of topics and locations to cover no matter when you decide to buy a ticket.

ADVENTURES BY DISNEY: DISNEY BACKSTAGE

You had to figure that Disney was going to be a little more expensive, but the actual cost of this week-long experience might shock you.

To be fair, the package includes meals and accommodation at both the Loews Hollywood Hotel and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

This Disney backstage adventure includes a tour of the Walt Disney Studios & Archives, an Imagineering tour, a Hollywood walking tour, and a tour of the Jim Henson Company.

Most of these tours are only available via this week-long package. The entire itinerary takes six days to complete, and it will keep you busy with plenty of fun activities from start to finish. 

• $4,999 for Adults | $4,749 for Children
• Availability: 2-4 times per month
• Duration: 6 days
• Hotel accommodation included
• 11 Meals included
• VIP Disneyland ticket included

As you can probably imagine, the testimonials for this experience are quite positive ( read reviews here ).

Some guests even noted that they made friends with their tour guides and continue to stay in touch with them to this very day.

Additionally, customers also appreciated the opportunity to see some behind-the-scenes areas that bring the history of Walt Disney to life.

One visitor even suggested that this trip allowed them to become kids again as they explored secret and wonderful locations at the happiest place on earth.

COMBO DEALS

If you're looking for a better price on these tours and other activities in Hollywood, you might want to consider one of the following combo packages.

Studios like Warner Bros. and Universal often work with tour companies to provide their services at lower prices.

There are several options to mull over, and almost all of them provide additional tours and services.

If you plan on spending more than one day in Hollywood, these combo deals are definitely worth a look.

GO CITY LOS ANGELES ALL-INCLUSIVE PASS

There's a reason that this is one of the premier attraction passes in Los Angeles.

In addition to offering access to a variety of notable locations, they also provide admission to some studio tours.

In particular, you can enjoy the Universal Studios tour, the Warner Bros. Studio tour and (sometimes) the Sony Pictures Studio tour with one version of this pass or another.

The Warner Bros. Studio tour is currently only offered with their Explorer Pass, and you'll need to purchase at least a 3-Day All-Inclusive pass to get admission to the Universal Studios tour .

Given that this tourist pass also supplies tickets to Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knott's Berry Farm, it's fair to say that the Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass could be a real bargain.

• $109 for 1-day pass
• $164 for 2-day pass
• $284 for 3-day pass
• $344 for 4-day pass
• $374 for 5-day pass
• $434 for 7-day pass
• $99 for 2 choices
• $119 for 3 choices
• $144 for 4 choices
• $154 for 5 choices
• $189 for 7 choices
• This attraction pass is available every day of the week
• Includes up to 3 movie studio tours

Read our post comparing the different tourist attraction passes available in Los Angeles.

TRANSPORTATION COMBO PACKAGES

If you're looking for transportation to and from each movie studio tour, the following services are available.

The advantage of these combo deals is that you won't have to pay for parking, gas, or car rental in order to visit each location.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included with each package.

Take your time and enjoy the studio tour without having to worry about anything else!

• Not currently available as of January 2024

CELEBRITY HOMES TOUR COMBO PACKAGES

These combo deals provide both a celebrity home tour and a movie studio tour.

Each option includes transportation not only around Hollywood but also to and from the studios.

While some of these services use a mini-bus, others drive you around town in a luxury sedan or an SUV.

Each company offers both hotel pickup and drop-off.

Expect these outings to last for between 6-8 hours on average.

• Warner Bros. Studio Tour & Movie Star Homes Tour (Starline Tours) - $119/Adults | $99/Children
• Alternatively, we offer our own self-guided celebrity homes tour .

This might be a good way to save even more money if you don't mind doing a bit of driving around Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

TIPS FROM LOCALS AND TRAVELERS

While we provide the details of what each tour offers, costs, and other information, here you can see what members of our Los Angeles Travel Tips group on Facebook have to say.

There are plenty of fans of the Warner Brothers tour.

And some enjoyed Paramount as well.

If you have to choose only one, between Warners or Paramount, these members’ insight may help.

Universal Studios received mixed reviews. Some people felt it was a waste of time and money.

On the other hand, Issa had a fantastic time, so much so that she wrote a very long post detailing her time there and how to make the most of your visit.

Take a look at our Los Angeles Travel Tips group for more recommendations, opinions and advice.

You don't need to join to read comments, but if you do join you can post a question regarding the studios!

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour vs Paramount Studio Tour: A Review

Last updated on january 23, 2024.

I love a good film just as much as the next person. The Big Screen and its secrets are so fascinating to me. When I went to Hollywood, I was determined to learn more about the secrets of Hollywood and see where so many masterpieces were made, and booked two studio tours.

I couldn’t decide on only one so I splurged on two tours. First, I went to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour , visiting the standard studio tour. Then I also went on the Paramount Studio Tour , also opting for their standard studio tour. Which one did I think was better?

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

The first stop on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is a short film (of course). It’s essentially just clips of movies they’ve filmed so you can see the selection of their movies and get pumped for the tour. Your tour guide then comes to get you and you head out in groups of about 20 people. They don’t tell you a lot about the history but they show you a lot of cool outdoor lots. You can see their forest lot, their suburban town lot, and their New York City lot. These lots are created to be versatile but quite standard. They have screens that show you some scenes that were filmed where you’re standing, and our guide knew a lot more and was able to tell us about some other films that were shot in those areas.

Of course, they also tell and show you the secrets of Hollywood. Some stuff is pretty standard, like using plaster to look like stone because it’s cheaper and quicker to make. But I’m still mindblown over something I learned here: they take branches and leaves off of the trees when needed, and also put them back on when needed. I didn’t know you could just take branches and leaves off of real trees and then reattach them like nothing happened! It’s so extra and so cool.

I later watched The Monster Squad , which is filmed on their suburban town lot with 0% editing, and it was really cool to recognise the location.

The guides, if not the tours, are really heavy on certain shows and movies. If you like Friends , this tour is completely full of their filming locations. They also have a lot about Gilmore Girls . A lot of our tour revolved around those two shows but you have to imagine how lengthy going through a whole history of Hollywood would be.

Then you also get to go into some indoor lots. We got to see the set for Fuller House and then the set of Conan . No photos were allowed but we got to see how shows like those two are filmed. They also have some exhibits that they bring you into. You can see one on DC movies and then one on Harry Potter . I expect these change from time to time. The DC movie exhibit was fascinating and it was easy to visualise the props in the movies, even though I haven’t seen any of the movies. The Harry Potter exhibit was actually quite small, and I was disappointed that they didn’t sort us with the sorting hat. My tour guide said that they no longer did that on the tour, but my friend and her husband visited the same place just two weeks later and got sorted on the tour. Fishy. Alas, I did get to see some awesome costumes and props from the Harry Potter series. They have some original costumes and candy props. However, I still need to go to the tour in London – this is nothing compared to that.

You can return to the land of superheroes by visiting the garage where they keep several Batmobiles. There were somewhere from 7-10 vehicles in the garage, all original to the movies, and all apparently working vehicles.

The tour wraps up by dropping you off at “Stage 48,” which is a museum-style part of the tour. This is self-guided. I thought it was educational and there was a lot more variety of TV shows’ and movies’ props and facts there. This is also where you can get your photo taken on the sets of Friends and The Big Bang Theory . You can’t actually explore the sets as it’s just a photo op. You sit on the couches and get your photo taken, which I believe is complimentary. You can also get your photo taken with their green screen setups, as either a wizard riding a broomstick or someone on Batman’s Batpod. I believe these are complimentary as well.

One thing I really didn’t like about this tour… I cannot believe that Warner Bros. would create Scooby Doo and then just deny its existence. I mean, it’s Scooby Doo. It’s one of the best TV and movie franchises in existence. I’m incredibly disappointed in them.

Otherwise, it was a great tour and I’d highly recommend it. It was really informative and a memorable experience. I actually learned a lot, both by reading but also by exploring, that I remember today, and I got to see some great props from fantastic movies. Tour guides change but mine was very enthusiastic and eager to share information. It put Hollywood into perspective but it was a lot of fun, even for a solo traveller.

Paramount Studio Tour

Next, I went to the Paramount Studio Tour. We get to do something really cool at the start of the tour – hold an Academy Award! Mine was for 1953 Best Special Effects. Then we head out on the tour. The great thing about this tour is that it’s smaller and more intimate. We had about 6-10 people in our group and got to introduce ourselves and our favourite movies, which allowed the tour guide to give us a much more personal experience. For example, I told her that I like Alfred Hitchcock, and she was able to point out places and state facts that were relevant to that. Imagine all the info guides must know to be able to curate each tour like that!

This tour is much more centered on behind-the-scenes information rather than props. They tell you a lot about the history of Paramount Studios and how certain films came to be made. They also have an iPad where they can show you photos and clips of movies that were filmed where you’re standing. They did this a lot more than Warner Bros., so it was easier to envision how certain spaces could transform for different purposes. There are some outdoor lots you visit but nothing as extensive as Warner Bros.

One of the coolest places we got to see was a large blue lot. It was just a blue parking lot that was outside. Our guide then showed us a variety of scenes that were filmed there, which really brought to light the magic of Hollywood and how spaces can be transformed using no more than special effects.

You get to go on a few indoor lots as well. We saw the sets of Dr. Phil and Grace & Frankie . I hadn’t even heard of the latter but we actually got to go in and explore the set, rather than look at it from a few feet away. That part was really cool!

You also get to spend some time in their prop warehouse but honestly, that was one of the most disappointing parts of the tour. All the props – no more than about 30 – are from obscure movies nobody there had ever heard of. We were given some time to explore but we kind of just looked around for a minute and then waited to leave.

I was also bugged that it was so hot (’cause, you know, southern California) but our tour guide was required to wear a long sleeved shirt and a blazer. Someone pointed this out and the guide said yes, the uniform is very hot. Is it weird to write that here? Treating employees like that docks points in my book.

So if it’s not obvious from this review, I thought Warner Bros. was the clear winner for the Studio Tour. I enjoyed that Paramount provides a more intimate experience, but they also provided much more information that we could’ve found online. I love history but with a studio tour, I was looking for an experience I couldn’t get anywhere else. Warner Bros. provided that a lot more, and getting to see so many great things in such a short period of time was more exciting. Warner Bros. also milks its hugely popular productions (except Scooby Doo). Paramount doesn’t do that as much. It tells a clearer story when you can see multiple filming locations and props from a specific movie or show rather than bits and pieces from a wide array of movies and shows.

Both are expensive tours, but I’d definitely recommend visiting Warner Bros. Studios if you’re into film. I don’t think it’s worth visiting Paramount Studios as well, especially at such a hefty price. However if you have the money, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Have you ever been to either studio tour? What did you think?

Also, off the topic of travelling, I’m interested in hearing what your favourite movies and TV shows are! Pop them into the comments below ’cause I’d love to know.

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Things to Do in Shchyolkovo, Russia - Shchyolkovo Attractions

Things to do in shchyolkovo.

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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Shchyolkovo Museum of History and Local Lore

2. Sun Clock Park

3. Trinity Cathedral

4. Shhyolkovo City Park

5. Chapel of the Icon of St. Seraphim of Sarov

6. St. Nicholas Church

7. Shhyolkovo Art Gallery

8. Protection of the Holy Virgin

9. Church of the Holy Martyr Emperor Nicholas II

10. Sport Complex Podmoskovye

11. Znamensky Temple

12. sporitelnitsa khlebov.

13. Imam Ravil Mosque

14. Temple of the Grebnevskaya Icon of Mother of God

15. Theatre-Concert Centre Shhyolkovskiy Theatre

16. Tsartstvo Mukhomora

17. Slavyanskiye Bani

18. mlechny put.

19. Pyat Zvezd

23. 5 Zvezd Shhelkovo

24. Sauna Odyssey

25. zerkal' studio.

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Rusmania • Deep into Russia

Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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